Boulders Beach, Home of the Penguins!

Head into Simon’s Town, and there you’ll find some of the most stunning beaches, but the most popular, and topping any tourists list, would have to be Boulders.

Aptly named after the huge granite boulders that litter the place, its not just the gorgeous white sand and clear turquoise water that brings people to the beach…

But the chance of sunbathing and swimming alongside these fascinating creatures.

Part of the Table Mountain National Park, and under the protection of SANCCOB, Boulders Beach is home to a colony of African Penguins.

From a boardwalk you can view the penguins on their very own private section of the beach, where you’ll find hundreds of them, sunning themselves or swimming in the ocean. They are well accustomed to their human visitors too, but don’t be tempted to take advantage of this- many a ‘too-ambitious selfie’ has ended in nipped fingers!

The penguins are moulting at this time of year, and as a result many are sporting sunburnt eyelids…

Make your way across the boardwalk that runs the length of the beach and you arrive at the other entrance where you can go onto the beach. The views aren’t bad either…

It’s the perfect place for a day on the beach, the boulders provide plenty of shade (believe me, you’ll be grateful for it!) and the multiple nooks and crannies between rocks are an ideal place to set up camp, albeit often shared with penguins.

Boulders is also on the warmer, Indian Ocean, side of Cape Point. Who could resist going for a paddle in a warm, crystal clear ocean?